Bee an Arts Champion

The 2025 Bee an Arts Champion award honors businesswoman and philanthropist Kathy Loo, who serves as a model for what it looks like for a successful community leader to step up in support of the arts. The Loo family’s wealth grew initially from a small art business called LooArt, founded by Orrin and Miriam Loo and later run by Kathy’s late husband Dusty and his brother Gary. By the time this small company had morphed into the greeting card giant Current, Kathy and Dusty were well known for their philanthropic support of arts and conservation: UCCS Theatreworks’ first venue was named in Dusty’s honor, and Kathy co-chaired a $43 million dollar capital campaign for the Fine Arts Center. At the same time, Kathy was turning privilege into public service via terms on City Council and investment in attainable housing projects like Blue Dot Place, which helped to revitalize the Downtown Creative District. What makes Kathy special is the way in which her life’s work demonstrates not only philanthropic impact, but the power of investment in community. The Foundation board of trustees invites you to join us in honoring Kathy and hopes that celebrating her remarkable impact in this way will inspire others to do the same.